Minimus Zeros - quality issues...

I recently bought some new balance minimus zero's, but they haven't faired too well...

The uppers appear to be incredibly minimal, so much so that after I took them for one decent walk in the dales they are falling apart at various points. Has anyone else had this sort of problem with these shoes yet?

Unfortunately I got them off ebay so have had no luck getting a warrenty replacement

I have had a pair for about four months (about 200 miles) and they are still OK, if a little stinky. The upper has no sign of wear whatsoever and the sole is a little worn down, but nothing like a pair of racing flats would be after the same amount of mileage.

I have found that NB do have an unbelievable customer service centre - for example, they told me to go for a 'proper' run in a previous pair of shoes before I decided whether I liked them. I did so, a decent six miles in the mud, but they still took the shoes back. Might be worth giving them a call, even if you didn't buy them direct from them, they seem quite proud to uphold their idea that their items are of good quality.

I have a pair of MR00s for casual wear and gym use (as a strengthening tool). The sole is already wearing fast - and irregularly. It is part foam, part firm vibram rubber. The hard vibram rubber is virtually untouched but the foam is already wearing away. Thing is, the entire medial part of the heel is just foam and that section is wearing down - so they will then force my foot into a pronated position. Dumb, dumb, dumb design, New Balance.

Tiago has hit the nail on the head! They are minimalist RUNNING shoes. In saying that myself and another PE teacher wear them around school all the time and find that to do this either get lucky and find a knock down price pair on Ebay or wear the trail variety as they tend to hold up for longer.

However they are designed as a forefoot running shoe, so heel toe action will wear the foam quick

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